Madison — Two days into preseason camp, Wisconsin assistant coach Charlie Partridge was asked if he could offer a brief assessment of the state of the defensive line, particularly the tackle spots.

Partridge said at the time he had plenty of bodies but he wasn't sure yet who could contribute and how much

One week later, the picture is clearer.

Partridge and defensive coordinator Dave Doeren believe that once redshirt freshman tackle Jordan Kohout returns from a minor knee injury UW could use as many as five tackles if needed.

"We're going to have at least three," Partridge said, "and I would like to be able to use five."

Redshirt junior Patrick Butrym (6 feet 4 inches and 284 pounds), who started two games last season and is the only returning tackle with any college experience, and Kohout (6-3, 290) should be the starters for the opener Sept. 4 at Nevada-Las Vegas. Last season Butrym fought through plantar fasciitis, a painful foot injury, but is healthy now.

"Pat has been playing really well, solid," Partridge said. "He is doing a nice job fundamentally and I'm happy with his progress.

"Jordan was cleaning some things up. . . . He'll be back soon."

Redshirt freshman Ethan Hemer (6-6, 290), a walk-on from Medford, generally has been the third tackle in camp.

"He has picked up right where he left off in the spring and built on that," Partridge said. "He has really had a nice camp, doing a nice job against our No. 1 offensive line."

Last season, then-seniors Jeff Stehle and Dan Moore and Butrym gave Partridge an effective three-man rotation on the inside. Then-seniors Jordan Hein and Dan Cascone played enough snaps, particularly early in the season when heat and humidity are concerns, to keep the top three players fresh.

The key to having a similar and perhaps more production rotation this season appears to be the development of redshirt sophomore Eriks Briedis (6-4, 294) and freshman Beau Allen (6-3, 325).

Briedis, who missed a significant portion of spring practice with knee bursitis, has been hampered by a variety of injuries at UW. He redshirted in 2008 and did not play last season. So far in camp, he has displayed the ability to be more than just a space-eater.

"A pleasant surprise in some ways, while he still has a way to go, is Eriks Briedis," Partridge said. "You go back over his history here when he has started to make progress something would happen to slow that progress down.

"Hopefully he stays healthy through camp because he is showing signs he can be in the rotation for us."

Allen's teammates were marveling at his size - his lower body is massive - before camp opened Aug. 9.

"He is bigger than a lot of guys in our offense," Doeren said. "He is going to be bigger than a lot of guys he lines up against. You don't find that very often in a freshman. He has tree trunks, a big kid."

Allen may have tree trunks for legs but he is anything but stationary. His quickness belies his girth.

"He is as sudden as we have in there," Doeren said. "He is as quick or quicker than the guys in front of him."

However, like most freshmen Allen has discovered that footwork, hand placement and pad level are just as important as the ability to stand toe-to-toe against veteran offensive linemen.

"The thing he has learned is that if he steps an inch out of place he is going to be out of his gap and we're going to have problems," Partridge said. "It just sounds like talk until you see it on film and now it's becoming real."

Allen, who played at 310 pounds as high school senior, knew that coming into camp and it was reaffirmed immediately.

"Good technique is one of the most important things a D-lineman can have," he said. "I've learned that even if you're physically ready to play . . . you've got to work on technique and that can always be improved.

"It's still early, but it has been a goal of mine to play early."

Partridge doesn't toss out compliments about his players without thinking and generally tries to temper expectations, particularly when it comes to young players. Yet you get the impression he is quietly excited about Allen.

"Beau is advanced for his age," he said. "Physically he is advanced. Fundamentally he has got a lot of ground to make up - and he's got to make it up fast - to be able to play. But he is a guy who, if those fundamentals come along, will be in the mix."